Rex Ryan on Bill Belichick and ‘Push-gate': ‘He’s got to make up his mind’

FOXBORO — The most controversial call of the season just won’t go away. And now it’s given new life to one of the more intense coaching rivalries in the NFL.

On Tuesday, Bill Belichick accused the Jets of the same “push” play on one of New England’s field goal attempts that the Patriots were called for, resulting in a second chance for the Jets and ending in a 42-yard game-winning field goal.

On Wednesday, Jets coach Rex Ryan said of Belichick’s claim, “that’s not true.”

But Ryan went on to give a jab at Belichick. Ryan alluded to the fact that immediately after the game Belichick said that he wasn’t aware of a violation of the “second level” aspect of the “push” rule. He later was quoted as saying he wasn’t aware of the rule and that it was his mistake and misinterpretation of the new rule.

“He’s got to make up his mind,” Ryan said. “Was he aware of it? Was is second level?”

Sunday’s game ended in controversy, as the Patriots were called for breaking the NFL’s new ‘pushing rule’ while Jets kicker Nick Folk attempted a 56-yard field goal to win the game in overtime. Folk missed that kick but Chris Jones was called for pushing Will Svitek into the Jets offensive line. A 15-yard unsportsmanlike call was made giving the Jets a new series of downs.

Four plays later, Folk took advantage and connected on a 42-yard attempt, giving New York the 30-27 win.

Following the game, various reports surfaced that Jets coach Rex Ryan had tipped off the officials that the Patriots have used this push technique.

Belichick was asked if it bothers him that there’s a report that the Jets tipped the officials off about the push play.

“Well, I mean, since they were using the play themselves I don’t even know about all that,” Belichick said Tuesday. “But basically, we’re just moving on here.”

It would appear Belichick was referencing Stephen Gostkowski‘s 44-yard field goal with 16 seconds remaining that sent the game to overtime.

Replays of Gostkowski’s kick show Jets outside linebacker Quinton Coples lined up to the left of teammate Muhammad Wilkerson, looped behind Wilkerson, and his right arm then pressed up against Wilkerson’s back as he then pushed Wilkerson, who then fell over snapper Danny Aiken and guard Logan Mankins.